Colombia's trade agreement blocked

President George W. Bush said a free-trade agreement with Colombia is dead unless House Speaker Nancy Pelosi schedules a vote on it and that blocking it is no way to treat an ally.

SOUNDBITE: US President George W. Bush, saying (English):

"That bill is dead unless the speaker schedules a definite vote. This is an unprecedented move. It's not in our country's interest that we stiff an ally like Colombia."

Bush was meeting with his Cabinet when he raised the issue.

Last week Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, led the U.S. House of Representatives in indefinitely delaying a vote on the free trade agreement.

Pelosi said the White House violated "protocol" by sending the agreement to Congress against her advice.

Peloisi said it was still possible Congress could pass the agreement this year if the White House and Democrats can agree on new legislation to bolster the U.S. economy.

The Bush administration reacted angrily to the move last week, accusing the Democratic-led Congress of changing the rules in the middle of the game on free-trade votes and insisting it had consulted heavily with lawmakers in fashioning the agreement.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters

ally - a friendly nation
stiff tr.v. stiffed, stiff·ing, stiffs Slang

1. To tip (someone) inadequately or not at all, as for a service rendered: paid the dinner check but stiffed the waiter.
bolster tr.v. bol·stered, bol·ster·ing, bol·sters reenforce, reinforce - make stronger